[BenF]

I appreciate your opinion. At this point I have given up on the idea of a regular KGSSHV and am considering Carbon to 009 instead. I am trying to figure out how good a combination this is.

Before you spend thousands of dollars, here are some excellent, yet much cheaper options:
1) KingSound M-10 has a great sub-bass oriented bass boost option - +9dB at 20Hz, +3dB at 100 Hz
It will fit your favorite genres greatly, and is only 600 euros: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/head...for-electrostatic-headphone-black-p-9085.html

2) Stax SRM252s has an anemic bass by itself, but paired with a good hybrid tube pre-amp, 009 produces very fun, "meaty" bass.
For best results, you should run it from LPS/UPS.
You can even buy SRM-253s for ~330$: https://www.ippinkan.co.jp/airbow/product/headphone/srm253_pac253.html
253s is basically 252s, but made with higher quality parts.

Remember, 009 is very easy to drive, there is no need for all the great power the expensive amps offer.
It's all about synergy.

 

[Gradostax fan]

Before you spend thousands of dollars, here are some excellent, yet much cheaper options:
1) KingSound M-10 has a great sub-bass oriented bass boost option - +9dB at 20Hz, +3dB at 100 Hz
It will fit your favorite genres greatly, and is only 600 euros: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/head...for-electrostatic-headphone-black-p-9085.html

2) Stax SRM252s has an anemic bass by itself, but paired with a good hybrid tube pre-amp, 009 produces very fun, "meaty" bass.
For best results, you should run it from LPS/UPS.
You can even buy SRM-253s for ~330$: https://www.ippinkan.co.jp/airbow/product/headphone/srm253_pac253.html
253s is basically 252s, but made with higher quality parts.

Remember, 009 is very easy to drive, there is no need for all the great power the expensive amps offer.
It's all about synergy.

A used srm t1S at ebay is a good choice too.

 

[alota]

A used srm t1S at ebay is a good choice too.

Indeed

 

[BenF]

A used srm t1S at ebay is a good choice too.

How is the bass performance with 009 on T1S?
What about tonality of female vocals - is it as good as with BHSE (if you have experienced it).

My setup of 253S (powered by LPS) with hybrid tube pre-amp sounds extremely similar to BHSE.

 

[Gradostax fan]

How is the bass performance with 009 on T1S?
What about tonality of female vocals - is it as good as with BHSE (if you have experienced it).

My setup of 253S (powered by LPS) with hybrid tube pre-amp sounds extremely similar to BHSE.

i sold my 009 4 yrs ago so now only use 009S. Its tonally balanced , not too bright nor too warm. Bass is great but not as tight when i drove it with KGSS klassik.
Vocal is definitely its strong suit, no idea on the BHSE's performance though.

 

[number1sixerfan]

How is the bass performance with 009 on T1S?
What about tonality of female vocals - is it as good as with BHSE (if you have experienced it).

My setup of 253S (powered by LPS) with hybrid tube pre-amp sounds extremely similar to BHSE.

Most of the stax amps are just a bit softer in bass presentation than other dedicated amps. The T1s is pretty good across the board and is my backup amp but to my ears it's a bit softer in dynamics than say the BHSE. But could see adding a cheap preamp to the mix as something that could help and could be a decent budget friendlier solution; I've never tried it.

 

[bobkatz]

Glad to hear you got one running sorry been taking a break to restore some amps as I was burned out from estat stuff

The output voltage is relative to input voltage and load. I evaluated zeners in series etc on the output HV side but the variance between cumulative breakdown voltage variations and running strings of zeners was too unpredictable… The XP power does have over current / dead short protection though. I researched failure modes for the XP power DC-DC converter and there is absolutely no way for it to generate excessive output voltage without the input voltage going high also.

I pondered this for almost a month and tested both input and output side protection setups but doing things on the HV side just didn’t feel right. Not to mention the XP power is still expensive itself so it deserves protecting also and it will fail if the input voltage goes too high.

This is why I run an input fuse, followed near max current limiting on the LT3081, then finally a last resort crowbar that will short the input of the converter if the regulator was to fail.

XP power application guides allow for either but I agree floating the output worked best for me and was the cleanest.

At the end of the day I provided my results and design just to give back to the community, I have tried to cover as much as I can and the first iteration using just a LM317 ran for over 6 months with 0 issues and that had nothing but a fuse to protect it.

I have not measured any significant changes in output voltage with connected estats, the converter isnt “that” sensitive. Worst case an increased load would pull down the output voltage a little more and I usually keep the bias around 570-575V.

Dear Aokman: You're truly giving to the community! Many thanks. It's encouraging to learn that the XP power has output protection modes. That's worth a lot. In my past builds I used an amazing Bertan regulated DC-DC converter with 2 mv ripple! But it's very expensive, as is the Emco. I wish we could get more information from the Chinese manufacturer of the UHV... maybe I'll reach out to them.

 

[harris4crna]

Indeed

You still have the 009?

 

[alota]

You still have the 009?

Hi. How are you? Yes i still have

 

[harris4crna]

Hi. How are you? Yes i still have

Excellent, I'm happy to hear that. Doing well. Spending to much money on this hobby. Just bought me a 007 mk 2. Hope it complements the L700 mk2 I purchased while visiting Japan last year.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Whilst I have been very much enjoying my Stax 009 & 009S, I have overdone it a bit with my consistent listening sessions every day and my hearing is slightly muffled so I need to take a few weeks off from music. I will give all my gear including the Stax to my friend to keep for the rest of the month whilst my hearing recovers. It's a shame as the Stax always provide me with an exciting and emotional engagement in my listening.

My plan going forward is to buy a new amplifier next year most likely being the Carbon CC to replace the iFi Phantom. I firstly need to upgrade to the CRBN 2 in December and once I have acquired the amplifier, I am inclined to save up for the Hifiman Shang Sr as the X9000 does not interest me.

 

[harris4crna]

Whilst I have been very much enjoying my Stax 009 & 009S, I have overdone it a bit with my consistent listening sessions every day and my hearing is slightly muffled so I need to take a few weeks off from music. I will give all my gear including the Stax to my friend to keep for the rest of the month whilst my hearing recovers. It's a shame as the Stax always provide me with an exciting and emotional engagement in my listening.

My plan going forward is to buy a new amplifier next year most likely being the Carbon CC to replace the iFi Phantom. I firstly need to upgrade to the CRBN 2 in December and once I have acquired the amplifier, I am inclined to save up for the Hifiman Shang Sr as the X9000 does not interest me.

6k for CRBN 2 is to hefty for me. I really don't think it will be worth it, but please tell.us otherwise.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

6k for CRBN 2 is to hefty for me. I really don't think it will be worth it, but please tell.us otherwise.

I am doing the trade up program as I have the original CRBN.

Audeze will charge $995 to upgrade to the CRBN 2 as you will need to send in your original CRBN and they will upgrade it to CRBN 2 specifications.

 

[Svperstar]

6k for CRBN 2 is to hefty for me. I really don't think it will be worth it, but please tell.us otherwise.

I wouldn't pay 6k either. Trade Up all the way. I didn't pay 6k for my X9000 either.

 

[harris4crna]

I am doing the trade up program as I have the original CRBN.

Audeze will charge $995 to upgrade to the CRBN 2 as you will need to send in your original CRBN and they will upgrade it to CRBN 2 specifications.

Ahh, sold my CRBN last week
.
Oops